In 1923, the name changed to radon, after radium, one of its sources and the element involved in its discovery. Radon is a noble gas, which means it has a stable outer electron shell. For this reason, radon does not readily form chemical compounds. The element is considered chemical inert and monatomic.
What is radon and why is it dangerous?
Radon: What Is It and Why Is It Dangerous? Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It dramatically increases the risk of cancer in those who inhale air contaminated with it for long periods of time.
How dangerous is radon really?
When radon gas enters the body, it exposes the lungs to small amounts of radiation. In small quantities, experts say this is harmless. However, in persistent exposures or larger quantities, radon can damage the cells of the lining of the lungs, increasing a person’s chance of developing lung cancer.
What is radon and what does it do to humans?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which may be found in high concentrations in indoor environments, such as homes and workplaces. Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Radon is estimated to cause between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers in a country, depending on the national average radon level and smoking prevalence.
What are the dangers of radon?
Radon is very dangerous though, as breathing it in over a long period of time can greatly increase your chance of lung cancer. The South Central Public Health District says the best way to determine how much radon is in your home, is to get a free test.
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What does radon meaning?
Definition of radon : a heavy radioactive gaseous element formed by the decay of radium — see Chemical Elements Table.
Who first discovered radon?
Friedrich Ernst DornRadon / DiscovererFriedrich Ernst Dorn was a German physicist who was the first to discover that a radioactive substance, later named radon, is emitted from radium. Wikipedia
Does radon have another name?
radon (Rn), chemical element, a heavy radioactive gas of Group 18 (noble gases) of the periodic table, generated by the radioactive decay of radium. (Radon was originally called radium emanation.)
Is radon used for anything?
Radon is used to track air masses to a limited level. Changes in groundwater radon concentrations help in the prediction of Earthquake. In the 1940's radon is used X-ray sources and for industrial radiography.
Where is radon most commonly found?
Radon is present outdoors and is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in surface water, such as rivers and lakes. It can be found at higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, as well as in water from underground sources, such as private well water.
What are 5 facts about radon?
Here are a few facts about radon, and what you can do to help keep your family healthy and safe.Radon is radioactive. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. ... Radon causes cancer. ... No immediate symptoms. ... You must test for radon. ... Radon is present indoors and outdoors. ... Radon can build up in any building.
What was radon originally called?
nitonRadon was discovered by Friedrich Ernst Dorn, a German chemist, in 1900 while studying radium's decay chain. Originally named niton after the Latin word for shining, “nitens,” it has been known as radon since 1923.
What rocks cause radon gas?
Radon is constantly being generated by the radium in rocks, soil, water and materials derived from rocks and soils, such as certain building materials. Radium is a decay product of uranium which is naturally occurring in the soils and rocks of the earth's crust.
What color does radon glow?
When cooled to its solid state, radon glows yellow. The glow becomes orange-red as the temperature is lowered.
Can radon pass through concrete?
Radon, soil gasses, and water vapor will easily pass through any openings, cracks, gaps, drains, or thin concrete (rat slabs) in the basement.
Is radon everywhere in the world?
Radon is present in the air nearly everywhere, and everyone breathes in radon every day, according to the National Cancer Institute. At low levels, it is harmless. However, people who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Can radon go through plastic?
While radon typically finds its way into homes through cracks or holes in a foundation it has the ability to penetrate through paper, plastic, sheetrock, wood, and insulation. This fact can be a little frightening because it seems that there is no way to keep radon out of our homes.
When was radon first discovered?
1900Radon / Discovered
Where was radon first discovered?
Friedrich Ernst DornRadon / Discoverer
When was radon first used?
Radon was discovered by Friedrich Ernst Dorn, a German chemist, in 1900 while studying radium's decay chain. Originally named niton after the Latin word for shining, “nitens,” it has been known as radon since 1923.
How did we discover radon?
It was discovered quite by accident through a man named Stanley Watras, who was a construction engineer. In 1984, while working at Limerick Nuclear Power Plant in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, he set off their new radiation detectors. The rest, as they say, is history!
How many people die from radon?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. You can take steps to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home.
How does radon gas get trapped in a building?
Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with proven, cost-effective techniques. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer.
Is radon dangerous?
Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue.
